Four views about 144,000, which is more Biblical?

a. 144,000 is Literal (as in)

b. 144,000 is Symbolical, but it is different from Great Multitude

c. 144,000 is Symbolical, and part of the Great Multitude

d. 144, 000 is the Symbolical number of the Great Multitude

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Permalink Reply by John Wolcott on February 18, 2014 at 1:16am

We read in Testimonies to Ministers, page 445: "This sealing of the servants of God [the 144,000: Rev. 7] is the same that was shown to Ezekiel in vision." Then the sealing of the 144,000 is the same as Ezekiel 9, and the marking by the man with the writer's inkhorn is the seal. As soon as the marking is done, "the five men with the slaughter weapons go after him and slay both old and young, both maids and little children, and women. And they began at the ancient men which were before the house."

It is at this time the 144,000 are marked, or sealed. Ezekiel 9 fits Elijah's experience for this reason: The prophet, or the message is called, Elijah, "with the spirit and the power of Elijah." The prophet Elijah thought all Israel had apostatized, and that he alone was left, but the Lord said He had 7,000 men that had not bowed a knee to Baal. "Seven" signifies a complete or perfect number, which stands as a symbol, in this instance meaning a complete number of thousands. The complete number of the very elect is 144,000. So we, too, like Elijah, think the whole church is drifted into the world (bowed a knee to Baal). Thus Elijah stands as a type of the 144,000 living, translated saints.

Moses--Type Of Resurrection Of Just

"Moses upon the mount of transfiguration was a witness to Christ's victory over sin and death. He represented those who shall come forth from the grave at the resurrection of the just." Desire of Ages, page 421. Moses represents the first, or general resurrection of Rev. 20:6.

Type Of Special Resurrection

If Moses represents the general resurrection, who, then, would represent the mixed, or special resurrection of Dan. 12:2? We have the one of Matt. 27:52, 53. "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many." The saints who had part in this resurrection were gathered from all ages. Some who, perhaps, had lived at the very time Christ was preaching, and were acquainted with Him and His work, were witnesses to His resurrection. Read Early Writings, page 184; Desire of Ages, page 786.

There is still another reason why Matt. 27:52, is a type of this mixed resurrection. Those who were resurrected with Christ witnessed of the deity of Christ to the very ones who crucified Him. Speaking of this mixed resurrection, Daniel says: "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." Then there will be some righteous included who lived and witnessed the crucifixion; also those who crucified Him, and pierced Him, for, (Rev. 1:7) "Behold, He cometh with clouds: And every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him." Therefore, the resurrection which witnessed of the power of God to these murderers of His Son, typified the just who are raised in the mixed (special) resurrection.

The Type Of The Second Resurrection

The wicked who come up in the mixed resurrection of Dan. 12:2, and who must die the second death at the coming of Christ, typify the ones who come up at the end of the millennium, called the resurrection of the wicked. Read Great Controversy, pages 661, 662; Early Writings, pages 52, 53.

Type Of The Second Death

It has been a perplexing question whether the wicked ones who arise in the special resurrection of Dan. 12:2, continue to live, or die with the living wicked at the second coming of Christ, and be resurrected at the end of the 1,000 years. As God leaves nothing undone, He has foretold everything in prophecy, and types as well. If we have a type for every other event, we must have a type of this. The wicked ones who are resurrected, must die with the rest of the wicked at the coming of Christ in the clouds to typify the second death at the end of the millennium.

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Permalink Reply by John Wolcott on February 18, 2014 at 1:19am

Now the question is, Will they arise again in the second resurrection with the wicked? In answer to this question, Early Writings, page 292 says: "At the first resurrection all come forth in immortal bloom; but at the second the marks of the curse are visible on all. The kings and noblemen of the earth the mean and low, the learned and unlearned, come forth together. All behold the Son of man; and those very men who despised and mocked Him, who put the crown of thorns upon His sacred brow, and smote Him with the reed, behold Him in all His kingly majesty. Those who spit upon Him in the hour of His trial now turn from His Piercing gaze and from the glory of His countenance. Those who drove the nails through His hands and feet now look upon the marks of His crucifixion. Those who thrust the spear into His side behold the marks of their cruelty on His body." By this we understand that these very men are there again in the second resurrection. Therefore they were resurrected the second time at the end of the 1,000 years, to die in the second death, which they themselves typified, (by dying the second death with the living wicked at the second coming of Christ in the clouds). Thus we have a prophecy and a type for every event that has, or will take place in this wicked world of ours.

A Thought Of Perfection:

1. The resurrection of Moses.
2. The resurrection at the time when Jesus arose.
3. The special resurrection of Daniel 12:2.
4. The first resurrection of Rev. 20:6.
5. The translation of Enoch.
6. The translation of Elijah.
7. The general translation at the coming of Christ.
Thus, we again have the number "seven", the sign of perfection, all, or finished. The four resurrections and three translations comprise all the saints resurrected and translated, all of which make a total of seven, or the end.
Procession Of The Redeemed

What a wonderful parade it will be when the redeemed of all ages shall march through the golden streets in heavenly places amidst the pure and the blessed.

1. Escorting the great procession we see the millions of angels who ministered to the redeemed in all ages.

2. Moses, the type of the resurrected, and the first man to write in the Bible, we see marching ahead as a leader of the resurrected ones, clothed in white and a glittering golden crown on his head. The resurrected ones whom he represents are Class 4, clad in white robes and having golden crowns.

3. Next we see good, innocent Abel, representing the martyrs with the glorious white robe and red around his garment as a border, leading millions of martyrs of all ages (Class 3), whose robes are just like the one worn by their leader, Abel.

4. We now behold good old Enoch, having around his head a dazzling white wreath: Above it a lovely crown brighter than the sun and on his right arm a glorious palm. It is by him the great translated multitude are both lead and represented, all in pure white robes, palms in their hands, and golden crowns on their heads.

5. Last of all the redeemed, the brave Elijah, with a glorious white mantle from his shoulders to his feet: A type and leader of the most wonderful company, though small in number. Being a special company, with a special experience a royal priesthood, the 144,000, in pure white, and a glorious mantle from their shoulders to their feet, with stars in their crowns. Rev. 14:5, "And in their mouth was found no guile: For they are without fault before the throne of God."

6. If the sons of God (Adams) from other worlds presented themselves before the Lord according to Job 1:6, in a council meeting, then surely the sons of God (Adams) from all the worlds would not be excluded from the most wonderful, and the only procession in Eternity's endless expanse.

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Permalink Reply by John Wolcott on February 18, 2014 at 1:20am

7. Last of all, Jesus and the majestic, heavenly throng with ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands of angels. What a wonderful gathering that will be! Can we find anything more harmonious than this in all the Bible? It will be noticed we again have the complete Biblical number "seven," and it cannot be made more or less, and yet include all. Ought this not to wake up our interest and zeal when we see what a glorious event is in store for God's faithful people?

An Explanation Of Writer's Inkhorn Of Early Writings, P. 279

The man with the writer's inkhorn of Ezekiel 9, is the one who performs the sealing of the 144,000 long before the close of probation. Some may misunderstand the statement made in Early Writings, and thereby be confused. For the benefit of such a one we make this explanation. Quoting the statement found in Early Writings, page 279, we read: "I saw angels hurrying to and fro in heaven. An angel with a writer's inkhorn by his side returned from the earth, and reported to Jesus that his work was done, and the saints were numbered and sealed. Then I saw Jesus, who had been ministering before the ark containing the ten commandments, throw down the censer. He raised His hands, and with a loud voice said, 'IT IS DONE'."

It is unmistakably plain that it was an angel with a writer's inkhorn, and that his work was done; also that Jesus' work was finished in the heavenly Sanctuary (probation closed). Because this angel has a writer's inkhorn by his side same as the man in Ezekiel 9, is no proof that it is the same angel, for it may be supposed that there would be more than one angel with such an instrument. However, it may be the same sealing angel in both instances, but the thought is, when the man of Ezekiel 9, seals the 144,000, his work continues on through the harvest time.

The saints must be numbered and sealed in this generation the same as those who have been sealed in the ages past. Evidently his work has been continuing ever since sin entered into the human family, perhaps beginning with Abel, and would continue to the close of probation, at which time his work would be done.